ABA NR 46/2001

NR 46/2001
24 July 2001

ABA determines simulcast start dates for regional digital TV services

The ABA has determined simulcast start dates for seven commercial television licence areas in regional areas for the purpose of television conversion from analog mode to digital mode.

Digital television will commence simulcast with analog television from 31 March 2003 for the regional licence areas of Darwin, Eastern Victoria, Northern NSW, Regional Queensland, Regional Victoria, Southern NSW, Tasmania and Western Victoria; and 31 December 2003 for Mildura/Sunraysia.

"I am pleased to announce that the simulcast start dates for regional licences areas has been determined by the ABA," said Professor David Flint, ABA Chairman. "Since the start of digital television in metropolitan areas, the ABA has received numerous calls from viewers in regional areas who are inquisitive about what digital television services can offer them."

"In many cases, access to digital television services will provide regional viewers with improved viewing quality; and provide a similar range of television services as are available in metropolitan areas," said Professor Flint.

The simulcast start date triggers a number of obligations on the part of regional licensees in relation to the provision of digital television services. These include the achievement of the same level of coverage and potential reception quality as the existing analog services as soon as practical; the commencement of HDTV (within two years after the simulcast date) and the opportunity to commence datacasting (one year after the simulcast start or after datacasting commences).

A number of measures have been undertaken to facilitate early start-ups in regional areas. Regional broadcasters can claim licence fee rebates if they start regular transmissions before the simulcast dates under the Regional Equalisation Plan.

"The determination of the regional simulcast start dates will encourage regional commercial broadcasters to continue the progressive roll-out of digital television services in regional Australia," said Professor Flint.

The ABA consulted with industry on the simulcast dates, and submissions were received from SBS, the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations on behalf of the regional broadcasters, and the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

The regional licence areas of Broken Hill, Mt Gambier/South East South Australia, Renmark/Loxton (Riverland), and Spencer Gulf were not considered at this time as they have issues associated with second licences (under section 38A of the Broadcasting Services Act) which will be addressed at a later date.

Further information about digital broadcasting can be obtained at the ABA website and the Digital Broadcasting Australia website.

Media contact: Donald Robertson, ABA Media & PR (02) 9334 7980 or 0418 861 766.

Backgrounder

Commercial Television Conversion Scheme

The Commercial Television Conversion Scheme (CTC Scheme) sets out the legal framework under which commercial television broadcasters will be able to achieve conversion of their television transmissions from analog mode to digital mode.

The CTC Scheme has legislative status and empowers the ABA to develop digital channel plans for the allotment of the additional channels broadcasters will need to achieve the conversion process. All broadcasters must broadcast in both analog and digital mode for at least eight years, during what is known as the simulcast period.

The CTC Scheme is divided into Parts A and B. Part A deals with digital conversion for metropolitan and regional licence areas. Part B deals with digital conversion for remote licence areas and requires the ABA to undertake further consultation once it has determined which areas of Australia will fall within Part B.

Regional licence areas

Schedule 4 of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act) requires that the ABA determine a simulcast date for regional licence areas. Regional licence areas are those that are not metropolitan or remote licence areas.

The Act defines metropolitan areas, whereas the ABA determined specified licence areas to be remote licence areas on 14 December 2000.

• Metropolitan areas: Adelaide; Brisbane; Melbourne; Perth and Sydney.
• Remote licence areas: ITQ Mt Isa; IMP and QQQ Remote Central and Eastern Australia; WOW Regional and Remote Western Australia; WAW Remote Western Australia; VEW Kalgoorlie; GTW Geraldton and SSW South West and Great Southern Western Australia.

Determination of simulcast date

The CTC Scheme states that the start of the simulcast period for regional commercial licence areas must be during the period beginning on 1 January 2001 and ending immediately before 1 January 2004.

The ABA does not determine simulcast dates for the ABC and SBS. The simulcast period for the coverage areas of each national television services commences on the dates indicated in each broadcaster's relevant implementation plan. The ABA maintains a public register of implementation plans, which is available either in hard copy or on the ABA web site at www.aba.gov.au/what/digital/policy/impregister.htm.

Regional Equalisation Plan

In recognition of the costs associated with rolling out digital television in regional areas, the government has developed a program to assist commercial broadcasters with delivery of regional digital television services.

The REP provides a financial assistance package to assist regional broadcasters to facilitate digital television services as quickly as possible. The REP also recognises that the start of the simulcast period triggers obligations and costs on the part of regional licensees in relation to the roll-out of their digital television services.

Section 38A of the Broadcasting Services Act 1992

Section 38 provides for an additional commercial television licence in single station markets. Existing single station markets are Broken Hill, Mt Gambier/South East South Australia, Renmark/Loxton and Spencer Gulf. A second commercial television licence will be planning for allocation during the second half of 2001.

Planning for digital television in regional area

The current status of digital channel planning for high-power services in all regional commercial television licence areas is as follows:

* The commencement of (third) digital television services under section 38B licences in existing two-station markets is not affected by the simulcast start dates determined by the ABA under section 48(1) of the Act.

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